National Blog

So we can now add cell phones to the growing list of things the federal government believes it can search and seize without a warrant. As the Washington Post reports:

Last week the Obama administration asked the Supreme Court to resolve the issue and rule that the Fourth Amendment allows warrantless cellphone searches.

In 2007, the police arrested a Massachusetts man who appeared to be selling crack cocaine from his car. The cops seized his cellphone and noticed that it was receiving calls from “My House.” They opened the phone to determine the number for “My House.” That led them to the man’s home, where the police found drugs, cash and guns.

Hint: just because cell phones aren't specifically mentioned in the Constitution, doesn't mean the government can search them without a warrant.